What is Togei? Togei is one of the traditional arts in Japan.

About Togei

Togei is one of the traditional arts of which Japan is proud, and is the art of making so-called pottery. A familiar example is making a plate, a teacup.

A person who makes pottery as a profession is called a potter (陶工) or ceramicist (陶芸家).

Togei is divided into four main types, unglazed earthenware (土器) and stoneware (炻器-fired at a high temperature), glazed ceramics(陶器) and porcelain(磁器).

The beginning of Togei

Japan’s oldest earthenware (土器) is said to date back to about 16,500 years before the Jomon period.
In the Jomon and Yayoi periods, only earthenware was used, but Japan learned the techniques from the Korean peninsula and China, and made unglazed earthenware (unglazed earthenware made from Kofun to Heian periods. blue-gray and hard) and pottery were being made.

The technique of adding color to ceramics(陶器) with glaze was also introduced, and the Nara Sansaisai (奈良三彩), which was influenced by the Tou Sansai(唐三彩), was born in the Nara period.

It was during the Kamakura period that a wide variety of pottery production began in various parts of Japan. During the Azuchi-Momoyama period, when the tea ceremony flourished, teaware based on a unique Japanese sense of beauty was born.

The first porcelain(磁器) in Japan was born in the Edo period. Porcelain with brightly colored patterns on pure white fabric was exported from Imari Port and was prized by European royalty and nobility.

Nowadays, most of the products are mass-produced due to advances in forming and printing technology, but the crafts of skilled potters have a different appeal.

The main production process of Togei

The following is a rough production process

(1) Knead the soil

The first step is to choose a good soil for the raw material. Then, let’s make them clay-like.

(2) Create a shape

Use the kneaded clay to make shape.

(3) Drying

The shaped pieces are soft when formed. As a result, it may be deformed by a little power. So, we leave it untouched to dry and harden.

(4) Make the production be unglazed

Make the production be unglazed. Unglazed firing is the process of firing in a kiln in various stages without using any glaze.

(5) Apply glaze

After the baking is finished, the production is decorated with glaze. This is what makes it more beautiful.

(6) Baking (painting and baking)

There are two types of baking: oxidation firing, in which oxygen is applied to the firing (complete combustion), and reduction firing, in which the firing is done under insufficient oxygen (incomplete combustion).

(7) Completion

 

How to form Togei (pottery)

There are also two main ways to shape the production. It’s “Rokuro” and “Tebineri”.

Rokuro (pottery wheel)

When you hear the word “Togei”, many people probably think of a pottery wheel. The sight of the work taking shape in front of the pottery wheel has made a strong impression on many people.
The process itself is quite simple. First, place the clay on a stand. And then they start turning the Rokuro (pottery wheel). Using the rotation of the Rokuro, the shape of the vessel is made.

Stretch the clay, being careful not to distort the shape. Finally, the production is completed by separating it from the Rokuro.

Tebineri

Tebineri is a method of making clay by kneading it with your hands on a table. Rokuro is suitable for making works in their natural state, rotational form.

On the other hand, the advantage of Tebineri handcrafting is that there are no restrictions on the shape of the work and you can make it into any shape you want. For example, a square plate is a typical example.

There is a beauty of proportionality in the works by Rokuro. On the other hand, the appeal of Tebineri handcrafting is that it allows you to create original works of art with free thinking.

Noborigama (kiln)

Noborigama is a series of chambers for firing ceramics with a fire pit at the bottom of the slope. We can bake a large amount at a time.

Photo of Noborigama

Main Places of Togei in Japan

Rokkoyou: This is the general term for the six representative ceramic kilns (Echizen, Seto, Tokoname, Shigaraki, Tanba, and Bizen) that have been in production since the Middle Ages to the present day. It was recognized as a Japanese heritage in the spring of 2017.

Seto, along with neighboring Mino, has developed into Japan’s largest production area. In Tokoname, Bizen, Echizen, Tanba, and Shigaraki, unglazed and natural glazed pottery is still being made.

Like Arita, the birthplace of porcelain, there are kilns with various characteristics throughout Japan, such as Hagi and Karatsu, which were opened by potters.

We hope you’ll visit.